I don't know where we're going, but it can only be 5K away

wildwillow wrote: »

Not fair to compare home knitted cost of product to price in shops. Think wages, rent, rates, insurance, VAT, web page, etc. and you will find the prices are usually not too outrageous.

If you only charged the minimum wage for your time, the hats would cost more.

Without commercial enterprises the local authority would be unable to function.[/QUOTE

It is very fair indeed. NB does it actually say hand knit on that site? I cannot remember and cannot get the site up. The edging looked machined

The hats etc hand knitted for shops are knitted at home by hand knitters. Been there done that and gave it up as it paid less than peanuts. As it still does. THAT is not fair! It is skilled work .

"The labourer is worthy of his hire"

I am not talking re minimum wage etc. Simply that for those very simple to knit hats are an outrageous price by any standards. There is little skill in them. If they were more intricate, maybe.

Hand knitters are never ever properly paid for their work; trust me on that. Not ever. The Aran sweaters you see in many tourist shops now are knitted by women in Portugal as irish women will not work them for what they are paid .

We at one firm got paid £10 for knitting a full adult size complicated Aran sweater that took even if you did not stop for meals, at least a week of many hours a day.

That is slave labour

I traded my knitted work at street markets craft fairs and online for years E15 was my price for an intricate Aran hat in pure Irish wool. Enough to pay, and high professional quality. I would never knit for a shop etc again. I have been asked to but...

So I prefer, which was my point, to knit privately for folk at a lower price than they would pay, but with a better reward for my work. as I explained in my post, so why the attack? I am no threat to any shop et!!!! REALLY! lol

Over and out from me on this bewildering and rather bizarre attack! My choice remains to work for a low enough but fairer price than these shops charge. OK? OK!!!

Oh and I knit now to send to family in Canada, specialist skilled work that sells for high prices; the money goes to feed abandoned babies in India. That makes me very very fulfilled and happy in work I am passionate about. I was offered Aran work here recently but refused it.

PS if anyone would like a classic cabled hat at a fair price. pm me! I could use the money well just now I have references!